State Senate Candidates Face Off in First Debate

In their first face-to-face debate, state Senate candidates Richard Katz and Richard Alarcon sought Saturday to highlight their different backgrounds and experience while taking nearly identical positions on education, guns and transportation.

During the debate, Alarcon, a city councilman, emphasized his long history in the northeast San Fernando Valley. He repeatedly talked about growing up and raising a family here and noted that his father has lived in the area for nearly 70 years.

Katz, a 16-year veteran of the Assembly, meanwhile, stressed his experience and knowledge of the political machinery in Sacramento.

“Experience counts,” he said. “You know me. You know my track record.”

The debate, which was sponsored by the San Fernando Valley Democratic Party and drew nearly 150 people to a meeting hall in North Hills, provided the first glimpse of the campaign tactics that the two top candidates for the Democratic nomination are likely to use in the race.

While mostly cordial, the debate offered a few sparks.

At one point, Alarcon grew angry with a Katz supporter who objected to another Latino lawmaker’s description of Alarcon as the only candidate from “our community.” The Katz supporter suggested that the expression signifies that Alarcon is the candidate for Latinos, not for the entire district.

Alarcon argued that the expression “our community” refers to everyone in the district, regardless of ethnic background.

“Our community is everybody in it,” he said. “I don’t care where they are born. If they live in my district I will fight for them.”

Katz and Alarcon are vying for the seat being vacated by Sen. Herschel Rosenthal (D-Los Angeles), who is being forced out of office by term limits. His Van Nuys-based district covers most of the northeast Valley.

Katz, a former Democratic party leader, was forced out of office in 1996 due to term limits. Alarcon is a relatively youthful Latino politician who, after only five years on the City Council, is shooting for statewide office.

The primary is June 2.

At the beginning of the debate, both men vowed to run a clean campaign and avoid personal attacks. But during the debate, the two candidates took veiled swipes at each other.

Katz tried to make an issue of Alarcon’s refusal to sign a pledge to run a clean campaign--a pledge that Katz himself drafted and signed several weeks ago. The pledge includes a promise to refuse contributions from anyone who could benefit by a decision made by either candidate in their respective positions. Katz is a member of the California Medical Assistance Commission.

Alarcon dismissed Katz’s pledge, saying he already abides by state campaign finance laws.

“I have always played by the rules,” Alarcon said. “My parents taught me to play by the rules.”

Katz replied: “Sometimes the rules don’t go far enough. . . . Leadership is about setting a higher standard.”

Later, the two men were asked if they support a code of conduct that would automatically expel any lawmaker convicted of a felony. The question referred to City Councilman Mike Hernandez, who pleaded no-contest to felony cocaine possession last year.

Both candidates said they would support such a code and both have urged Hernandez to resign from the council.

But before asking Hernandez to resign, Alarcon said he “struggled” with the decision because he and Hernandez are friends.

Said Katz: “I didn’t struggle. A felony is a felony.”

Still, for the most part, the two candidates showed they have more in common than just a first name.

They both said improving the schools is a top priority and both vowed to fight to keep guns out of the hands of children.

Katz said he would support a ban on the manufacture of inexpensive guns known as “Saturday-night specials.” Alarcon said he would work with programs to keep youngsters out of gangs.

Both said they oppose an initiative measure that would wipe out most bilingual education in public schools.

And both said they would support creating a separate Valley transit district to give residents more say in the operation of local bus lines.

Katz went a step further. He called for a halt to further spending on contruction of the region’s troubled subway system.